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Míng (名) in the Laozi Daodejing (老子道德經): Interpretations and Translations of the Opening Verse
- Philosophy East and West
- University of Hawai'i Press
- Early Release Articles
- 10.1353/pew.0.0197
- Article
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This paper revisits one of the most celebrated verses on dào and míng in the Opening Chapter of the received Laozi Daodejing. I shall clarify two types of English interpretations which are possibly applicable to the verse and demonstrate that they are equally sustainable. It follows that a commitment to either one of these interpretations may thereby spoil the meta-perspective effect which the verse skillfully creates.